Laboratory Methods with Imaginary and Simulated Contexts to Assess Noise Annoyance: A Comparison in Terms of Annoyance Model Testing

Noise annoyance models using only mean energy-based indices provide weak prediction. Actually various factors influence noise annoyance. Different studies from the literature are carried out in laboratory conditions to understand some factors with the long-term aim of enhancing noise annoyance models. Laboratory experiments of assessing noise annoyance are based on imaginary or simulated context. The method with imaginary context is often questioned as participants listen to noise sequences. The current study aims at comparing the two methods in terms of total annoyance model testing. It revealed that annoyance models, respectively built within imaginary and simulated contexts, provided similar prediction when they were tested using in-field annoyance responses. Thus, the laboratory method with imaginary context seems to be as suitable as the method with simulated context to assess annoyance in laboratory conditions.